Released on 31st July 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is already the UK’s fastest selling book of the decade. The book picks up right where the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ended: at platform 9 ¾, with Albus Severus Potter worrying about being sorted into Slytherin. The familiarity of the words is overwhelming – a theme that resonates throughout the book. It does not feel like nine years have passed since the penultimate HP book was released, and the nostalgia that comes with this realization is both enthralling and plaintive. Right off the bat, the language and dialogue are strikingly appropriate and allow the characters to stay true to themselves, which gives credibility to both the characters and the book. The Golden Trio are exactly as we remember them – brave, hilarious, and setting unattainable friendship goals since 1991. While many may describe the HP series as one of good over evil, to me it has always been a tale of friendship. In that sense, the Cursed Child continues that trend and highlights an unlikely but extraordinary friendship between the two protagonists – Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy. On the other hand, the actual plot promises more than it delivers, and is unfortunately a letdown. The storyline turned out to be redundant and while there was definite potential for a more wholesome story, the plot in itself was underdeveloped. The primary twist was a welcome relief and added not only purpose but also pace and intrigue to an otherwise stagnant setup. This may be simply because the Cursed Child is not a novel. It is the script of a play, and while it may read like an oversimplified text, I do believe that the play would be an entirely different and more rewarding experience. Image Credits: www.pottermore.com Vineeta Rana [email protected]]]>
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